The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has called on the President-elect, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, to prioritize the welfare of academics and ensure that university education is given the utmost importance.
ASUU also cautioned the incoming government not to follow in the footsteps of the previous administration, which saw disruptions to the academic calendar and resulted in students staying home for eight months due to governance failure. Prof Gbolahan Bolarin, the Chairman of ASUU at the Federal University of Technology, Minna, and a member of the National Executive Council of ASUU, emphasized that university education should not be treated with disdain and academics should be treated with respect.
The call for improved welfare, an end to the proliferation of universities, and increased funding have been long-standing demands by lecturers.
However, Tinubu has made a promise to prioritize education and ensure there are no more strikes in universities under his administration.
Additionally, the outgoing Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ile Oluji, Prof. Emmanuel Fasakin, also urged the government to create an enabling environment for Nigerian citizens to work and thrive in their respective academic endeavors, emphasizing that polytechnic education is needed to provide manpower for the country’s industries.
